Article display counter



Sept. 17, 1957 s. KRA-SNOSKY ARTICLE DISPLAY COUNTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July '7, 1953 Sept. 17, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7, 1953 IINVENTOR.

Sept. 17, 1957 v e. KRASNOSKY ARTICLE DISPLAY COUNTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 7, 1953 a R n a m M a m @A m e w w .6 m v l/IQ MN ARTICLE DISPLAY COUNTER George Krasnosky, Pensacola, Fla. Application July 7, 1953, Serial No. 366,428 2 Claims. (Cl. 211-1.6)

This invention relates to display counters for articles of merchandise and is of the general type in which traveling trays or other supports are provided for the articles.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel display counter which will present an endless succession of horizontally traveling articles and one or more successions of circularly traveling articles.

An endless driven belt carries article supports for most of the articles, and one or more rotary supports are provided for additional articles; and another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction in which a driving wheel for each rotary support is driven by said belt.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a vertical-axis article supports having a drive wheel whose periphery is engaged at diametrically opposed points by the two reaches of the belt, respectively, thereby providing ample driving friction between the belt and wheel even though the article support may be heavily loaded.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction in which the aforesaid belt is disposed in side contact with a drive wheel for a vertical-axis article support, and is in edge contact with a drive wheel for a horizontal-axis article support.

A still further object of the invention is to dispose the two drive wheels rather close together and to pcripherally groove the drive wheel which contacts with the edge of the belt, whereby this wheel will hold the belt in driving contact with the other drive wheel.

The aforesaid belt is trained around spaced pulleys mounted on vertical axes, and brackets project upwardly from said belt through an endless slot in the top of the counter to carry the article supports; and another object of the invention is to provide said brackets with rollers which roll upon an endless track on the counter, thereby suspending the brackets for smooth traveling and also suspending the belt against creeping downwardly from the pulleys.

A further object is to provide the counter with stationary shelves associated in a novel and attractive manner with the traveling article supports.

A still further object is to provide a novel holder for attractively displaying men or ladies shoes either on the fixed shelves or the traveling supports.

Yet another object is to provide a counter of the type set forth which will be of extreme simplicity, free from expensive maintenance troubles and well adapted for the attractive display of a wide variety of articles.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation, and a view of the other side would be identical;

nited States Patent "ice.

Patented Sept. '17, 1957 t Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on line 22 of Fig. l;

- Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on the planes of line 3-3 of Fig. 1, repetitious portions being broken out;

' Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3, repetitious portions being broken out; and

Fig; 5 is a sectional perspective view showing one of the shoe supports.

The general construction shown in the drawings is preferred and will be rather specifically described, but it is to be understood that numerous variations could well be made both as to structure and embellishment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

A horizontally elongated casing 6 is provided having a' floor 7, side walls 8, end walls 9 and a top 10. All of these elements may well be of wooden construction and when such construction is followed, the top 10 will preferably have a sheet metal covering 11. Thi top is provided with a continuous slot 12 spaced inwardly from its edge, and said edge is provided with a finishing moulding or rim 13.

The central longitudinal portion of the top 10 is provided with an upward step 14 upon which stationary shelving 15 is mounted for article display. The shelving 15 has a gap 16 between its ends in which a verticalaxis article display rack 17 is received. If perishable article are to be displayed, the shelving 15 and/or its supports 18 may be hollow to circulate a cooling medium.

At the sides of the casing 6 there are two horizontalaxis article display device 19 preferably constructed to simulate Ferris wheels, and upon the casing top 10 over the slot 12, there is a plurality of article supporting trays 20 within the confines of rim 13. The driving elements for all of the display devices 17, 19, and 20 are housed within the casing 6 and include a motor 21 and suitable speed reduction means 22. A suitable access door (not shown) may of course be provided in the casing for these elements.

Two vertical shafts 23 are mounted in suitable bearings 24 in the casing ends, and the motor 21 is operatively connected to one of these shafts by means of the speed reduction means 22. Each shaft 23 carries a large pulley 25, and a flat belt 26 i trained around the two pulleys. This belt'may well be reinforced on its outer side by a flexible metal band 27. T-brackets 28 have their shanks secured by bolts 29 against the band 27, and the-pulleys 25 may be peripherally grooved at 30 (Fig. 4) to clear the heads of these bolts. The brackets 28 extend through the slot 12 and are secured to the trays 20, and these trays have rollers 31 resting on the track formed by the metal counter cover 11. Thus, the trays 20 are supported for smooth movement over the counter top 10 and the belt 26 is suspended by the brackets 28. The belt cannot therefore creep downwardly from the pulleys 25.

Internal frame members 32 are. provided for the sides of the casing 6 and are notched at 33 to receive the two reaches of the belt 26. There may be any adequate number of these frame members, and their upper ends support transverse bars 34 for supporting the casing top 10.

A vertical shaft 35 carries the display rack 17 and is mounted in upper and lower bearings 36 and 37. This shaft is disposed centrally between the two reaches of the belt 26 and is provided With a drive wheel 38 contacting with the inner side of both of said reaches, whereby there will be ample frictional contact between the 3 belt and drive wheel to effectively drive the rack 17 even though the latter be heavily loaded.

A transverse shaft 39 extends through the casing 6 near the vertical shaft 35 and carries the two ferris Wheels 19. Suitable bearings 40 are provided for this shaft. Two of these bearings are shown: in vertical posts 41 secured against the casing sides 8, and two more in horizontal longitudinal bars 42 secured to some of the above described frame members 32.

The shaft 39 is provided with a drive wheel 43 having a V-groove 44 receiving the lower edge of one reach of the belt 26, whereby said belt will drive the Ferris wheels 19. Moreover, the groove 44 holds this belt reach snugly against the drive wheel 38 of the rack 17 andavoids any jerky rotation of said rack.

In operation, the motor 21 drive the belt 26 and thus causes continuous travel of the trays or the like 20. This belt drives the wheel 38 to rotate the rack 17 and also drives the wheel 43 to notate the Ferris wheels 19. Thus, the various articles placed on the trays, rack and Ferris wheels will be advantageously displayed.

When displaying shoes, devices such as that shown in Fig. may be employed to advantage. In this view, a post 45 is shown to be engaged with either a fixed or a movable support. This post carries a vertically adjustable collar 46 having two oppositely projecting arms 47. Upon each of these arms, a shoe support is mounted, only one of said shoe supports however being shown. This sup-port includes an elongated, sheet metal, channeled body member 48 having parallel side walls 49. The front ends of these wall are provided with two laterally projecting wings 50 to support a shoe sole. Near their rear ends the walls 49 have other laterally progiecting wings 51 to support a shoe heel. Immediately in advance of the wings 51, abutment fingers 52 project upwardly from the flanges 49 to abut the front of the shoe heel. Directly behind the wings 51, the walls 49 have inwardly and downwardly bent tongues 53 forming guides.

A sheet metal heel-clamping member 54 of channeled form is slidably disposed in the rear portion of the channel member 48 and has its side walls 55 engaged with the guides 53. The rear ends of the walls 55 have up standing hooks 56 to engage the rear side of the shoe heel.

An elastic element 57 is attached at its rear end to the front end of the member 54 and is suitably anchored at its front end in the channel of the member 48. This elastic element 57 exerts a constant forward pull on the member 54, causing the hook 56 to hold the shoe heel tightly against the fingers 52. The shoe heel rests on the wings 51 and the sole on the wings 50 and the shoe will therefore be solidly held.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a novel and advantageous construction has been provided for attaining the desired ends. However, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the counter could well be of angular form in top view instead of straight, with suitable id'lers, for guiding the belt around the corner. Then, too, there could be any desired number of the rack 17 and Ferris wheels" 19. The casing and its framing elements could be of any adequate construction, and any appropriate materials could be employed for the various elements.

I claim:

1. In a display counter having a horizontally disposed endles driven belt and a series of horizontal article support connected to and movable with said belt, said belt having supporting pulleys at opposite ends thereof and spaced reaches; a first wheel peripherally contacting a side face of at least one of said reaches to be driven frictionally thereby, a rotary article display device operatively connected with and driven by said wheel, a second wheel peripherally contacting the same reach as said first wheel and disposed to be driven by said reach and to hold said reach against the first wheel for better driving engagement, and a second rotary display device operatively connected with and driven by said second wheel.

2. In a display counter, an endless driven belt having a flat vertical side and a lower edge, vertical-axispulleys around which said belt is trained, a series of article sup ports connected to said belt, a vertical-axis wheel peripherally contacting with and frictional-1y driven by said vertical side of said belt, a horizontal-axi wheel having a peripheral groove receiving said lower edge of said belt, said horizontal-axis wheel being driven by said belt and holding the latter in driving contact with said vertical-axis wheel, mounting means for said wheels and said pulleys, and article display devices connected with and driven by said wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 125,928 Blake Apr. 23, 1872 426,890 Westphal Apr. 29, 1890 930,302 Martin Aug. 3, 1909 1,008,348 Mann Nov. 14, 1911 1,009,452 Thurn et al. Nov. 21, 1911 1,269,825 Langdon June 18, 1918 1,710,785 Peabody Apr. 30, 1929 1 1,736,121 Konikoif et al. Nov. 19, 1929 1,826,533 Steele Oct. 6, 1931 1,850,079 Karnes Mar. 22, 1932 2,586,665 Konikofi Feb. 19, 1952 2,628,722 Walsh Feb. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 489,085 France Aug. 24, 1918 

